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25Dental Tribune Middle East & Africa Edition | January - February 2014 ORAL HYGIENE Post in-surgery whitening: What next? Chris Dodd Managing Director of Purity Laboratories, discusses how to maintain the new, white smile after professional in-surgery whitening. N ew research by the British Dental Health Foundation (1) found that one in five people now spend more money per month on oral care products, compared with hair products, skincare, fragrances and cosmetics. And, having seen a huge increase in the demand of teeth whitening over the past decade, it’s clear that the quest for a “Holly- wood smile” is unlikely to end any time soon! The ability to offer a profes- sional tooth whitening ser- vice in your practice is an extremely attractive and lu- crative treatment offering which will keep you at the cutting edge of cosmetic den- tistry. In just one surgery visit, you can give your patients a brighter shade through treat- ments with bleaching trays, strips or laser treatment. However, whilst we spend our time educating and encourag- ing patients to stop smoking after whitening treatment, re- duce the intake of coffee and staining foods, brush teeth twice daily and cut down on sugary snacks, the truth is that once the patient leaves the practice the maintenance of their new, white smile be- comes their own responsibil- ity. The lows… Patients are keen to minimise the effect of “bounce back”; a process whereby the teeth rehydrate and slightly darken a day or two after treatment. Enamel is naturally subject to abrasion but even more so after in-surgery treatment, because Hydrogen Perox- ide and Carbamide Peroxide reduce the hardness of the enamel. Therefore, it is even more important that patients avoid highly abrasive whit- ening toothpastes as they can damage the teeth and gums, removing the lustre of the teeth and dulling a beautiful smile. By recommending a low-abrasion whitening tooth- paste, you can ensure your pa- tients protect and restore the enamel calcification lost as a result of the bleaching pro- cess, helping maintain their white smile for longer. The abrasiveness of tooth- paste is measured according to the RDA (relative dentin abrasivity) value, and any value over 100 is considered to be “abrasive”, something which is unfortunately often not included in the marketing or promotional information supplied with toothpaste prod- ucts, thus masking a common problem. Interestingly, a USA-based in- dependent testing laboratory (July 2012) tested the abra- sion levels of 15 toothpastes. The results confirmed that Beverly Hills Formula’s whit- ening toothpaste is less abra- sive than other leading brands of both whitening and regular toothpastes. In fact, Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White scored as low as 95 on the Abrasivity Index Table, whilst some leading competitors dis- played levels as high as 138. And the highs To support these abrasion results, an invitro labora- tory study found that Bev- erly Hills Formula whitening toothpastes remove stains in just one minute. Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White (coded as “PLMO/1x1158 Stain Removal” in the study) toothpaste proved effective at removing stains with almost 91% of stains removed over a five-minute period and Bev- erly Hills Formula Dentists’ Choice Gum & Whitening Expert toothpaste removing almost 90% of stains. Mean- while, other leading brands of whitening toothpastes and toothpolishes scored as low as 41%, a remarkably low per- centage, considering water alone removes 48% of stain- ing (2). These results signal a break- through in oral care and aes- thetics, as this new generation of whitening toothpaste offers a tooth-friendly solution post in-surgery treatment, help- ing patients restore their teeth to a natural white colour for longer. Whitening – no longer a sen- sitive issue After in-surgery tooth whit- ening treatment patients can experience sensitivity, this can be anything from a mild twinge to having severe dis- comfort that can last for sev- eral hours, or even days. For these patients, why not rec- ommend the use of a tooth- paste that contains Potassium Citrate. This desensitising agent relieves tooth sensitiv- ity by effectively blocking the transmission of pain sensation between the nerve cells that enable cold and hot sensations to reach the tooth’s nerves. Those who require extra sen- sitivity relief alongside an extra whitening boost will appreciate the benefits tooth- pastes like Perfect White Sensitive. Combining the ad- vanced Hydrated Silica for high performance whitening with Potassium Citrate for rapid sensitivity, patients can start to enjoy acidic foods and drinks once again whilst leav- ing teeth looking and feeling brighter. Regular use will also help to prevent tartar build- up and relieve tooth sensitiv- ity, effectively protecting and whitening teeth whilst allow- ing patients to maintain good oral care. The bright side of whitening As patient safety, protection and awareness of tooth whit- ening remains a prime con- cern for you and your team, it’s essential to promote a consistent oral health mes- sage. Communicating the im- portance of good at-home oral care routines, through the use of whitening toothpastes after in-surgery whitening treatments, will help patients maintain a white smile and a healthy mouth for longer. References 1. Research conducted on behalf of the British Dental Health Foundation by Ato- mik Research, February 2013. Sample size: 2,044. 2. Beverly Hills Formula Stain Removal Study: http://www. beverlyhillsformula.com/ stain-removal-study-2012/. Tel: +353 1842 6611 info@beverlyhillsformula.com www.beverlyhillsformula.com Contact Information